ARASOTA, FL.—Infusing hydrogen may be the best thing that ever happened to drinking water, such as HTWO™ Hydrogen Water from Penta 5 USA, according to a recent study.

The study measured the effects of drinking Hydrogen Water on muscle fatigue in elite athletes caused by acute exercise. It found that oral intake of Hydrogen rich water (HW) prevented an elevation of blood lactate during heavy exercise.

Muscle contraction during short intervals of intense exercise causes oxidative stress, which can play a role in the development of overtraining symptoms, including increased fatigue, resulting in muscle microinjury or inflammation.

While it has been shown that hydrogen can function as an antioxidant, researchers were inspired to investigate the effect of Hydrogen Water (HW) on oxidative stress and muscle fatigue in response to acute exercise.

Ten male soccer players were subjected to exercise tests and blood sampling. Each subject was examined twice in a crossover double-blind manner; they were given either HW or placebo water (PW) for one week intervals. Subjects were requested to use a cycle ergometer at a 75 % maximal oxygen uptake (VO2) for 30 min, followed by measurement of peak torque and muscle activity throughout 100 repetitions of maximal isokinetic knee extension. Oxidative stress markers and creatine kinase in the peripheral blood were sequentially measured.

Results: Although acute exercise resulted in an increase in blood lactate levels in the subjects given PW, during maximal isokinetic knee extension, suggesting muscle fatigue, but peak torque of HW didn’t decrease at early phase. There was no significant change in blood oxidative injury markers (d-ROMs and BAP) or creatine kinease after exercise.

Conclusion: Adequate hydration with Hydrogen Water pre-exercise reduced blood lactate levels and improved exercise-induced decline of muscle function. Although further studies to elucidate the exact mechanisms and the benefits are needed to be confirmed in larger series of studies, these preliminary results suggest that a product like HTWO™ could be a great help to athletes as well as playing a key role in repairing the body of all people during daily activities.  [1]

[1] Aoki et al. Medical Gas Research 2012, 2:12 http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/2/1/12